X11 season 45 - de rigueur Mortis One Touch Football (2025)

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• Various Artist

  • Join Date: Jun 2010
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  #6326

  08-08-2021, 16:21

  Division 1

  In the day’s big clash at the MSA Celebration Arena, visitors Zeugmaspor took a firm grip on the D1 title race with a 2-1 win over hosts and rivals Locomotiv Noj. Neither had lost a game previously, but although Oktay Cakir’s 20th-min opener was cancelled out by Jeremiah Tomkins on 55’, Zeugma were only held up for two minutes before Hamza Özil thumped them decisively back in front. Now on an imposing 7-1-0, they are five points clear of Locomotiv, who are winless in three after five straight victories to start with. Noj are themselves five clear of 3rd, as the next two down also met and it was Steaua Bridge, who started the day 5th, who ended up rising to fill the last promotion slot after a 2-1 win at previous incumbents Turd Division. The Turds drop to 4th and an injury to Tonel Celas means they now have both their eldest two defenders in recovery at once.

  The really remarkable games, however, were elsewhere.
  Whoft Fluffopolis would have gone third with a win at struggling Banik Roystonov, who all else being equal would have finished the day 9th with a loss. Things looked on that course when Whoft led early through Colm Dinamoe, yet two Banik goals in the next seven minutes turned things on their head. Povel Kafka completed a brace to send the hosts in 3-1 up (from 4-1 chances), and then not only did they hold the Fluffers at arm’s length for the second half they also struck again in the 84th minute before Freire Rosando’s stoppage-time coup-de-grace made it a startling 5-1. That actually leaves the two clubs adjacent in midtable, Whoft down to 5th and Banik up to 6th.
  It was not the best game in the division for the neutrals, though. That came at the Stade Belinda Carlisle, where a Somers Town Sugar Imps side also in with a chance of ending the day in the promotion places hosted bottom club die Ambosse. The recent league champions were probably not expecting to fall behind to the table-proppers inside the very first minute, yet Edmundo Bivar’s free kick eluded 23-year-old Martin Norman and they were playing catchup from the off. Anvils midfielder Nico Neff scored 9 last season but only had 1 this campaign, a stat he rectified by not only doubling the visitors’ lead on 20 minutes but tripling it on 44. Possession was close though and shots stats at the break read just 4-3 in the away team’s favour, and straight from the start of the second half Somers Town launched a fightback when Oswald Wheels touched home a Bastjan Tomasi free kick. Not to be outdone, Bivar buried another deadball special just before the hour mark to make it 4-1 to Ambosse, but minutes later Gino Diana fired home another for the Imps and then Aritz Arazadi nodded in from a corner to make it 4-3 and set up a really interesting last 20 minutes. On 84’ however Bernd Frehn stabbed home from a Neff corner to put the visiting side two ahead once more, and then three minutes into time added on Bivar converted yet another free kick to complete both his hat-trick and a spectacular 6-3 win for a team who had just three goals to their name collectively beforehand. They also climb off the foot of the table to 9th, only two points behind the shellshocked Sugar Imps who drop to 7th – behind Banik on goal difference after that implausible 7-goal swing.

  After all that, I’d love to report that the day’s remaining fixture between lowly pair Kernow Kensa and Saltney Drawers was a 12-goal riot. Alas, it was merely a 1-0 to Kensa, thanks to Dean Booker’s neat 66th-min finish; though ‘riot’ was perhaps not completely misplaced as, after both sides had goals disallowed in the opening quarter, they subsequently had two players each yellow-carded and the Drawers’ Alistair White converted his into a red in the 91st minute to end their hope of salvaging a draw. Kernow stay 8th after their second win of the campaign, but Saltney slide to the bottom of the heap on 1-1-6, three points adrift of die Ambosse whom they now face in a crucial doubleheader. Only 5 points span 3rd to 9th however so there could be a lot of movement elsewhere over the coming week.

  OTF

  Were things a little quieter in the top flight? Well, a little – but there was still plenty of action, starting at the Stef Tolsma Arena where in-form league leaders Berkshire Swine defended the division’s last unbeaten record against improving Vita Mortis. Jan Moelendyck’s solo effort put the Swine ahead halfway through the first period, but Wesley “Bananaman” Bannerman headed Mortis level just after the interval from their first opening of the game. The two sides remained deadlocked for most of the remainder, yet five minutes from time it was Rene Vanden Borre who headed the Reaper Men a late 2-1 winner that made for a repeat of the equivalent fixture last season.
  That third single-goal win in a row for Mortis moves them up to 4th, now just a point behind the leaders though still unable to get ahead of Four Candles on goals scored nor Great Ouse Town on goal difference after Candles won 3-2 and Ouse 4-0 to extend their advantage in those respective departments. Great Ouse crushed Waveney Valley Swifts in the East Anglian Rivers Derby, where Jeffery Redman and Ernie McAteer had GOT two up at the break before late further strikes from Lois Trundle and Redman again doubled that. The Swifts started the day as the top tier’s top scorers and with the chance of going 2nd in the league table themselves, but ended it down to 6th and caught up on 12 goals by not only Ouse but also the Candles – who came from behind at Dandy Town to score three in a row in 19 second-half minutes. Abraão Cabanas’ second free kick of the day for the Dandies late on nearly doubled the 30-year-old defender’s previous lifetime goals total of 3 and made it a grandstand finale, but reigning champions Candles held on to climb to 3rd.
  With Croesoswallt Dragons winning 2-0 at Eriskay Expression, through two goals in five minutes from Cliff Anthony soon after the break, to climb to 5th and just three points off top spot, the big bad wolves are really queueing up behind the Swine – who may be relieved to find their midseason doubleheader is against an Eriskay side who have now lost five in a row without scoring, 0-1, 0-1, 0-1, 0-1 and 0-2. The Scots even slipped below Dandy Town to 9th, despite the latter's own defeat, as Anthony’s second strike meant they are now one worse off than the Highwaymen on GD. Furthermore, they are just two points off the bottom of the table, as basement side Rejects Redux finally got their first win at the eighth time of asking back in the top flight in a 2-0 home success against Csiki Monkeys. An open affair swung the Rejects’ way when Noel Colbourne buried a 67th-min free kick, then their decision to risk a not-fully-fit Christopher Belemgoto paid off when the 32-year-old crashed home a late header to seal victory. It is their first at the highest level since the 14th of January, when they beat Dandy Town 2-0 at home three-quarters of the way through Season 61. That came three games into a closing WDWDDDD streak that saw them relegated 7 matches unbeaten, weirdly – so although Redux may still be 10th right now don’t write off their ability to pick up steam just yet...

  Last edited by Various Artist; 08-08-2021, 17:06.

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• Sits

  • Join Date: Sep 2011
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  #6327

  08-08-2021, 21:50

  Great work VA, especially in the circumstances.

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• Janik

  • Join Date: Mar 2008
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  #6328

  09-08-2021, 23:24

  Many issues were decided on Xpert XI official Ladies League matchday 13. But how did that go for our sides? Read on, read on…

  Code:

  Xpert LadiesRoy Rovers 3 - 1 DrakainaEklind 8' Nylund 14'Qvarnström 30'Jeppsson 60'Division 1bFajar Khatulistiwa FC 1 - 3 Mauchline BellesZgavec 93' Fogueira 24', 84' Melkersson 65'Division 3eSan Quirico 0 - 2 Viking South Utsira A.Kvalvik 2' N.Austrheim 64'Division 3fKanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC 2 - 0 Beta AndromedaeWibawa 68'Sumanti 88'Division 4iArena 67 Ladies 6 - 0 LNWR LocomotiveGolikova 4'O´Riley 10'Alexandre 27'Sá 43'Borges 61', 65'Division 4jCoxy Ladies Wulpen 3 - 0 Fair Maidens of FISOMichel 45'Roosens 63'Wuyts 76'Division 4pCFF Dinamo Bucuresti 2 - 1 Csiki GirlsRiess 38' Crampsey 67'Freires 57'Division 5:14FC Scorpions 0 - 3 Cinghiali Chornovil 26' Buzunova (pen) 36' Soviero 66'Division 5:19Ullapool Northern Star 0 - 0 Rising StarsDivision 5:21Invictus Ladies FC 3 - 0 Invisible LadiesAnzai 8'Hunter 17'Frydén 32'Division 5:22Northen Stars Lady 3 - 1 Bombay Green RocketsHagström 27', 65' Lock 39'Witt 29' Panzer (sent off) 82'Division 5:26Zeugma Dostluk Spor 3 - 1 KappaMansiz 5' Haxhausen 91'Elmeroth 46'Manookian 76'Division 5:27South Skeletons 1 - 0 CassiopeiaCamacho 64'Division 5:28Menywod Maeshafn 2 - 2 FCT QueensLeighton 22' Askerberg 59'Beck 74' Division 6:42Carreon 0 - 7 Hazeldean Inchmistress Bringevik 2', 19', 26' Morgan 7' Bunton 12' Christersson 17' Dekoninck 73'Division 6:43ASU Politehnica 2 - 2 MawzeniNistorescu 76' Yadav 19'Motta 82' Sen 92'Division 6:57Dublin City Womens FC 3 - 1 Isabella de CastillaLyktberg 18' Stiller 83'Hempel 24'Pascal 30'

  Relegation was a near certainty for Drakaina ahead of their game at Roy Rovers as The Dragons trailed fifth-placed side CandyGirls by 6 points and -10 Goal Difference. That meant even a win for Etienne’s side in this one wouldn’t necessarily be enough to extend their hopes as if CandyGirls got anything from their game then the Greeks were down anyway.
  Whilst there was a flicker of hope Drakaina had to preserve, but that flicker was guttering from the 8th minute as the Rovers went ahead. Dagny Nylund fanned the dying flame somewhat by heading home an equaliser on 14 minutes, but by half-time it was 2-1 to Roy Rovers and they were hardly flattered by that score.
  Drakaina’s last hope of victory was extinguished between the 55th and 60th minutes as first Juan Hentovic had an ‘equaliser’ disallowed and then a third for Rovers wasn’t. Soon after news filtered through to Dragons fans, staff and players that CandyGirls had scored twice in quick succession in their game, so even if this game could be turned around it wouldn’t matter – Drakaina were going down.
  In fact, The Dragons final finishing position for season 62 of seventh in the Xpert Ladies is now fully confirmed. Which does take the pressure off the final match against the runaway champions ShamLam Doobily Dodgers.

  Some recent reverses had ended Mauchline Belles chances of replacing Drakaina in the top flight, and had instead raised the vague possibility that even their Division 1 status was under threat. The Belles had a glorious chance to nip that one in the bud though when they travelled to bottom side Fajar Khatulistiwa FC , who hadn’t won a league game all season.
  The first half was pretty even, 51% possession to Mauchline and two chances a piece. The one key difference between the sides in this period was Filomena Fogueira headed home The Belles opening on 24 minutes, whereas Khatulistiwa converted neither of their chances. Another header, this one from Gunilla Melkersson on 65 minutes, made it two before Fogueira wrapped up the points with a third for Jdsx’s side on 84 minutes. Scored, yet again, with her head.
  Fajar Khatulistiwa pulled one back, but as this came deep into stoppage time it was clearly only a consolation strike. If did nothing to prevent The Belles winning, the victory, combined with a loss for the side in sixth, meaning Mauchline will remain in Division 1b for at least another season. They currently sit third, but could finish anywhere between that and fifth depending on the last day results.

  Viking South Utsira, who were still chasing the Division 3e play-off place, had a tough match on paper as they visited Divisional leaders San Quirico. The Blood Eagles were helped, however, by their hosts already have been crowned as 3e champions.
  Not that the Quirico boss was taking it easily, picking his best team and looking increasingly frustrated on the touchline as they failed to land a punch on Viking. Which was rather significantly as The Blood Eagles had registered a scoring shot of their own as early as the 2nd minute through a sister act, Anastasija Kvalvik firing home Tove’s assist.
  That goal had Velvet Android’s side ahead for most of the game, but it was not a comfortable lead until the 64th minute when VSU skipper Nina Austrheim headed home a cross from another Kvalvik, Anastasija and Tove’s cousin Josefine. After this strike the match was done, The Blood Eagles handing Quirico just their second loss of the season.
  Victory wasn’t enough to get VSU back to second in the table though as BV Cloppenburg also won their match. But it does mean The Blood Eagles are only a point adrift going into the final day. There is a way that Viking can finish second with only a draw, but it takes an unlikely result in the other relevant game. Really Utsira need to win against relegated San Francisco Wet Cats, and cross their fingers that San Quirico have got this match out of their system and can take something from Cloppenburg.

  A crunch relegation clash in Division 3f pitted Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC against Beta Andromedae.
  The league standings prior to kick-off pretty meant it was basically a straight fight between these two teams to avoid the last relegation spot. But this wasn’t a straight play-off with equal chances for both teams as The Sea Spirits sat two points behind their visitors prior to the game. Which meant that defeat for SeanoftheShed’s side meant immediate relegation, and a draw left their fate out of their own hands.
  The Sea Goddesses showed few signs of feeling the additional pressure though as they held 58% of the ball and made all three chances to be fashioned in the opening 45 minutes. These all foundered on Andromedae’s superb ‘keeper (27/16) though, which was bad but made the stopper being forced from the field on 33 minutes with a knock a very important feature of the match.
  Beta Andromedae’s back-up goalie is no makeweight – at 25/11 she would be a first choice at many clubs. But she isn’t quite as lockdown as the player she understudies and whereas The Sea Spirits couldn’t score past the first choice, both Aulia Wibawa (68 minutes) and Utami Sumanti (88) put efforts past the replacement.
  KRK’s ‘keeper Kacey Rust is just as impressive as Andromedae’s starter. Not that she needed to be in this one as she wasn’t called into action once. Appearances are she would have been ready; hopefully she will be in similar form on the final day as this result means Kanjeng are now out of the 3f drop zone, but still need to win their final game to be sure of survival.

  There were no such stresses for LNWR Locomotive. And that is unfortunately as The Steamers were already relegated (and comprehensively so) ahead of their visit to Arena 67 Ladies.
  This match had a hiding to nothing look to it for Viktor Boskovic’s team, as Arena 67’s position was level on points with the play-off spot, but outside it on goal difference. Their desire to rack up the goals was obvious... and Locomotive didn’t appear to know how to prevent them doing precisely that. Maybe first choice goalie Maral Parseghian would have picked the ball out of her net slightly less often than the six times her back-up Sona Mgrditchian (well, actually seven but one was disallowed), but the likelihood is with 10 shots at the LNWR goal that a goodly number would have gone in whoever was between the sticks.
  A match to forget at the end of a season to forget for The Steamers. They have one more to play before waving goodbye and good riddance to Division 4i.

  Another side already sure to leave Division 4 behind and so playing without stress were Coxy Ladies Wulpen, though in The Waders case they are heading upwards. That meant boss Janik was able to put some kids in for the game against relegation threatened Fair Maidens of FISO, and hang the integrity of the league.
  Except, rather against expectations, the Wulpen kids performed remarkably well. Dominantly, even. Not that any of the younger players scored, but they contributed to a sparkling performance that was Coxy Ladies hold 64% possession in both halves, make five openings whilst giving up precisely zero, and score three times.
  Defender Claire Michel was the unlikely source of the opener, netting from long range in the 45th minute. That was just her sixth ever goal, in her 201st career appearance. She later completed a highly productive attacking day by crossing for Estelle Wuyts to head the third in the 76th minute. In between a more regular contributor, Laetitia Roosens, had registered with her usual trick, a direct free-kick. That came with 63 on the clock.
  The youngsters can expect a similar run out in The Waders Division 4i farewell appearance next Tuesday, especially as the opponents for this one are sure to finish mid-table.

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• Janik

  • Join Date: Mar 2008
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  #6329

  09-08-2021, 23:24

  Finishing mid-table was absolutely the aim as the sixth placed side in Division 4p, Csiki Girls, headed to the side one place and four points ahead of them, CFF Dinamo Bucuresti.
  The mathematically inclined among you will have deduced that playing the side they were trying to close a four point gap on in the penultimate game of the campaign meant this was a must-win for Csiki’s girls. Not as a metaphor, but actually, genuinely, win this or you are down. That was what was staring at Ad hoc’s side, particularly after a first half ended in which Dinamo had dominated possession, made the only chance, and scored it.
  There had to be a reaction from Csiki Girls to this. There was, as the Transylvanians significantly upped their share of the ball to hit parity in the second period, and also began to create a string of chances. If they could just get level, then maybe… but, now very much against the run of play, Dinamo scored the next goal instead after 57 minutes.
  Ginger Crampsey halved the arrears with a header on 67 minutes, which gave The Csiki’s half the second half to rescue things. But remember they were not chasing one more goal for a draw as a draw meant the same as defeat – relegation. What was needed was two more. The knowledge of that proved too onerous, and no more at all were added.
  Defeat left Csiki Girls five points adrift of 4p’s new fifth-placed side with a game left, so heading back to Division 5 again.

  Cinghiali sat second in Division 5:14, two points clear of two sides chasing them for the play-off place. A win was therefore essential for The Boars when they visited already relegated FC Scorpions.
  SitsWithRemote’s side had plenty of possession in the early going, but it took them 20 minutes or so to hit their chance-making stride. However as soon as they did it paid dividends, Aleksandra Chornovil crashing home from range on 26 minutes and Zoya Buzunova converting from the penalty spot on 36. Those strikes pretty well sealed victory for Cinghiali given they were up against an opponent who hadn’t won in nine matches. Trillare Soviero wanted to make extra, extra sure though, which she did by heading home a third on 66 minutes.
  Victory sorted, Cinghiali went to check the other results, hoping that both their rivals (Brisbane Roar and Humiliating) might have failed to win. In which case Cinghiali’s play-off spot would have been assured. It proved to be the case of Humiliating, but not the Roar. Which makes for a tricky last day for Cinghiali, as now they really need to beat Division 5:14 champions Real Rolz as otherwise a win for Brisbane against Humiliating will see The Boars pipped at the last.

  Loads was on the line as OTF’s two Division 5:19 outfits, Ullapool Northern Star and Rising Stars, met at Minchview for the second derby of the season.
  Ullapool came into the game sixth in the table, though only goal difference adrift of two sides directly above them. Rising, meanwhile, were third, but level on points with top and second. Both situations sound exciting, but the real kicker here is there were just three points between our two sides – Polaris, in a relegation place, would go above The Ascenders with a two-goal victory!
  As I said, lots on the line then. Which might explain a pretty tight affair in the opening half which saw just two chances created. Both were for Northern Star, Avril Weatherhead seeing a chip on goal punched away by a flying Alba Quevedo in the 13th minute (the dive was maybe more for the cameras than really necessary to effect the save) and Hellen MacKintosh’s half-volleyed effort from a worked free-kick routine on 21 minutes also drawing a save from Quevedo, this time with her legs.
  Delicatemoth’s side continued to make the openings after the break, starting in the very opening seconds as Mary-Leslie Mair had a precise header saved again by Quevedo, who was on her way to being The Ascenders Man-of-the-Match. Quevedo was finally beaten in the 52nd minute when Suzy Bastock’s flick header found its way past her… only for the goal to be disallowed for a dubious offside leaving Ascenders boss Blamb grateful to ref Constance Paine. That lasted for all of 60 seconds as play swung straight down the other end from UNS’ disallowed strike, Érica Veríssimo lobbed a header over Kell Crawford, only for another dubious flag seeing The Stars strike also contentiously chalked off.
  Bastock drew an excellent save from Quevedo with a well struck direct free-kick on 59 minutes at which point Polaris seemed to being to run dry of ideas, their only other attempt of the match coming from a bicycle kick on 83 minutes from Mair that was miles wide.
  That meant a game that Ullapool had really dominated finished goalless. This kept Polaris in sixth in the 5:19 standings as the two teams they were level with in the morning both won to move two points clear of the Scots. Which means only a victory on the final day can save Northern Star from the drop. Which is galling, because just one goal scored and they would have been… still sixth, but sixth and level on points with second! As it is the backs-to-the-wall draw for Rising Stars saw them jump a spot from third to hold second on their own, a point clear of three sides. Win their final game and the play-off place is theirs… unless Rising win at the same time as their rivals Athletic Mizil beat leaders Ramsgate. Then Rising would be champions.
  The really positive news for both OTF sides is that their final games come against Division 5:19’s bottom two, who have six and three points to their names all season. Two wins looks very hopeful, though in Polaris case a bad set of result elsewhere could mean they go down anyway even with victory.

  Invisible Ladies visited Division 5:21 leaders Invictus Ladies FC looking for the single point they needed to guarantee sixth tier survival, but also aware that this might happen anyway thanks to results elsewhere.
  It fairly swiftly became a case of hoping for a helping hand by PebbletheFish and co as Invictus ran up a 3-0 lead in little over half-an-hour. But then, they needed to as the leaders held just a two point gap on second-placed Bethanys Binos, who happened to be the side that The See-Throughs relegation rivals, Glenboble Monarchs, were playing.
  Invictus would have assumed a Binos win. And they would have been right as 1-0 at half-time became 4-0 by the end. As this news filtered through Invisible could start to relax, knowing their place at this level was safe. That in turn allowed Invictus to ease off and protect their 3-0 lead, a situation that worked all round for everyone.
  We now know that Invisible will finish fifth in the 5:21 table, as they are five points adrift of fourth and six clear of sixth with one match to play. Getting that spot has been much less fraught this season than last.

  At least a play-off place if not automatic promotion itself was on offer to Bombay Green Rockets if they could get a positive result at third-in-the-table Northen Stars Lady.
  A draw was enough for the former, as The Green Rockets went into the game four points clear of their hosts, who were in turn two points ahead of the rest. Promotion needed either a win (and that was effective rather than mathematically certain) or a draw and favourable results elsewhere for HKS3’s side. However that all relied on getting a positive result from this game – conceding twice in quick succession just before the hour mark was definitely not part of Bombay’s plan!
  Isabel Lock pulled one back on a breakaway on 39 minutes to give The Rockets hope, but in truth that was very much against the run of play as it was Bombay’s only shot of the first half compared to six for Northen Stars. When that pattern moreorless repeated after the break then a killer third for the hosts was basically inevitable, their path to victory smoothed further by key Rocket Agnes Panzer getting herself sent off in the 82nd minute for a second booking.
  Despite defeat, Bombay’s exceptional goal difference keeps them top of Division 5:22 going into the final day. However they are now ahead of second-placed Flick of the Wrist by just that, goal difference, and also only one point clear of their opponents in this one, Northen Star, who sit third. The top two places are amongst these three, with the pressure on Bombay and Flick as Northen Star are almost certain to win their game.

  Another tight league is Division 5:26, as exemplified by Zeugma Dostluk Spor sitting only one place and two points ahead of sixth-in-the-table Kappa whilst simultaneously being within striking distance of the play-off spot as they only trailed second by three points and -1 GD!
  Whether AntepliEjderha and co were going to be looking up or down (or indeed up but to safety…) would be determined by the outcome of this match, which made Makbule Mansiz’s 5th minute breakaway opener particularly valuable. That set the tone for a first half that ZDS controlled, though it took them until seconds after the restart to double their advantage, Monica Elmeroth firing home from long range. Some time, and in some manner, for the veteran defender to score her first goal for Zeugma (Elmeroth was signed on deadline day last season).
  The Anatolian side were now comfortable but were still able to be more so, which is precisely what Aghavni Manookian achieved by heading a third in the 76th minute. Kappa did get a goal back but this did little to disturbed ZDS’ repose as it came in stoppage time and was obviously only a consolation strike.
  And of little consolation really, as defeat meant Kappa were relegated. That means Zeugma are safe in 5:26… unless they go up by the play-offs that is. It’s a long shot, as it will require current second-placed side As Besugas dos Açores (who won’t have given up all hope of the title) to lose to a mid-table side whilst Zeugma beat another mid-table team. But it’s not wildly implausible either.

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• Janik

  • Join Date: Mar 2008
  • Posts: 27384

  #6330

  09-08-2021, 23:25

  In theory Cassiopeia were strong favourites to win at South Skeletons. The Vainglories were, after all, second in the Division 5:27 table and potentially able to confirm their play-off spot with a win, whilst the Skeletons were sixth and could easily be relegated if they didn’t win.
  However, despite the different trajectories there was less between the sides than meets the eye, as just six points separated them at kick-off as we stumble across yet another very balanced section. The Vainglories were expecting a challenge then. And Stormstopper’s side got one. They had a lot of the ball (60% all told) but struggled to do much with it, something they were not helped in when key forward Gordana Juric picked up a 10-day injury 39 minutes in.
  At the other end South Skeletons were making rather more of their more limited supply of possession, creating three chances in the match. One of these was a free-kick in the 64th minute, which they worked well to score the winning goal.
  And with that Cassiopeia dropped from second to fourth in the 5:27 standings. The play-off is still a possibility as The Vainglories only trail that spot by a single point, with the two sides above them playing each other. If they were to draw, the door would be open… assuming Cassiopeia can beat runaway champions Marianne in Chains. Oh. There is another, scarier, possibility, which is that The Vainglories are only three points and +6 GD ahead of South Skeletons now. Defeat for them, victory for the Skeletons, and a big score either for South or against Cassiopeia (or both) and disaster would rear up.

  A well worn theme comes around again for the match between Menywod Maeshafn and FCT Queens. Tight Division, not much in it, either side could yet succeed.
  In this particular case the two combatants were third and fourth respectively, level with each other on points and both three off a play-off spot and four adrift of the leaders. But with those top two facing each other a win for either of the sides clashing in North Wales would catapult that outfit right back into contention for at least the play-off is not automatic promotion.
  A lot for both to play for then. It was the hosts who made the first move towards gaining something meaningful from the day, Clare Leighton heading home a corner on 22 minutes to put IsThatcherDeadYet’s charges ahead. If that looked promising then events in the 30th minute upgraded that to very promising as the Queens goalie collapsed with an injury and had to be substituted… by a midfielder!
  That was the good news, but the rest of the opening half brought a note of caution as it was actually Queens who had more of the ball and more of the chances. If Maeshafn could stay reasonably level in overall terms in the match though, then the outfielder in goal for their opponents might be all they needed. But they didn’t as FCT ran much of the second half. The visitors levelled on 59 minutes and scored again on 81. That was a second equaliser though as in between Morgan Beck had restored Maeshafn’s advantage.
  In the end neither side succeeded in their aims though, as Maeshafn didn’t get enough shots off at the knock-kneed sub to make the most of their chance (3 in total), but the same was also true of Queens who needed more than the 9 shots they created to cover up for their weakness between the sticks.
  Which is a lot of words devoted to a 2-2 draw that effectively ended Maeshafn’s hopes of the play-off spot as the other game at the top was a draw. Why does a three point and -4 GD gap appear insurmountable? Because of who the sides in between Maeshafn in second and The Valkyries in second play is why.

  Hazeldean Inchmistress were handed one of the easiest play-off confirmation tasks imaginable as they needed just one point at zombies Carreon to secure their spot.
  It was quickly apparent that Foxy265’s girls would be claiming all three in fact as they raced into a 6-0 lead inside the opening half-an-hour. Jennie Bringevik got the Imperials first on 2 minutes with a breakaway, and their fifth and sixth on 19 and 26 respectively. As the middle goal was scored with her head, there is the possibility that Bringevik achieved the perfect hattrick here.
  Between Bringevik’s personal first and second Jacqueline Morgan (7 minutes), Karen Bunton (12) and Göta Christersson (17) also scored. There was just one more goal after Bringevik’s hattrick strike (which was Inchmistress’ sixth of the day), Jessica Dekoninck netting the only goal of the second half in the 73rd minute to make the final total 7-0.
  Hazeldean’s win meant they retained the six point gap on third in Division 6:42, so can begin making plans for the play-off place. And don’t need to worry about their final regular season match against champions Haydock Ladies… though Haydock lost last week anyway, the first time all season they have done anything other than win.

  The target for ASU Politehnica against Mawzeni was very clear – a point. Just one measly little point.
  Of itself that single point wouldn’t be enough for The Scholars to win Division 6:43. But it would virtually do it. How so? Well, Granthamian’s side held a three point lead on Aveley Ladies, but the Essex outfit had a superior goal difference. So that single point would mean Politehnica were ahead by at least one prior to their final game… which is against a zombie that has lost every match this season apart from ones against fellow zombies, generally conceding around four goals in the process. So, basically, one point meant the title was just about done for the student side.
  Getting it against Mawzeni wasn’t a guarantee though as the visitors are a decent side. As they proved by going 1-0 up in the 19th minute, and then holding that lead until half-time. And then beyond. The Timisoara crowd had gone from jumpy to really, really nervous when their side were still behind with 15 minutes to play, which made the roar a minute later when Tania Nistorescu headed home the equaliser even more spine chilling.
  Shackles freed, Politehnica went searching another. And got it six minutes later, Fernanda Motta scoring on a breakaway. That goal proved very important as Mawzeni levelled matters again in the 92nd minute, but that meant a draw. Which leaves The Scholars with just the zombie kill to go before they are crowned 6:43’s title winners.

  Dublin City Womens FC hopes of snatching the Division 6:57 play-off spot rested on staying within two points of current second-placed side Tesla Girls. With Tesla playing a zombie, that meant The Dubs had to beat Isabella de Castilla, which didn’t necessarily look straightforward against the sections fourth best side.
  Appearances can be deceptive though as The Molly Malones sparkled. In particular Man-of-the-Match Michelle Hempel, who had an absolutely storming first half that propelled her team to victory. Hempel teed up Maria Lyktberg to hammer the opener in from range on 18 minutes, before turning scorer herself on 24 when she headed home a cross. After that it was back to assisting teammates, Hempel swinging the ball over for Meena Pascal to head the third on 30 minutes.
  Mortal Joe’s charges opted to sit back and defend what they had gained after the break, which resulted in one back for Castilla on 83 minutes. But the lead and the victory was never threatened.
  That means 6:57’s play-off place goes down to a final day clash between Dublin and Tesla. As they are trailing in the standings, only a win will be good enough for The Molly Malones. But a win will definitely do it. All to play for…

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• Various Artist

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  #6331

  10-08-2021, 21:22

  Epic stuff Janik, great work!

  Originally posted by Janik View Post

  This kept Polaris in sixth in the 5:19 standings as the two teams they were level with in the morning both won to move two points clear of the Scots. Which means only a victory on the final day can save Northern Star from the drop. Which is galling, because just one goal scored and they would have been… still sixth, but sixth and level on points with second! As it is the backs-to-the-wall draw for Rising Stars saw them jump a spot from third to hold second on their own, a point clear of three sides. Win their final game and the play-off place is theirs… unless Rising win at the same time as their rivals Athletic Mizil beat leaders Ramsgate. Then Rising would be champions.
  The really positive news for both OTF sides is that their final games come against Division 5:19’s bottom two, who have six and three points to their names all season. Two wins looks very hopeful, though in Polaris case a bad set of result elsewhere could mean they go down anyway even with victory.

  And after all that, it is indeed fair to say that one in particular of Div 5:19's games had to be seen to be believed, an absolutely unreal scenario played out.

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• Janik

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  #6332

  10-08-2021, 21:44

  Yeah, I just clocked that. The sort of scoreline that generally means a penalty shoot-out... but that was a league game.

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• Sits

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  #6333

  10-08-2021, 22:00

  Janik thanks as ever.

  a tricky last day for Cinghiali, as now they really need to beat Division 5:14 champions Real Rolz as otherwise a win for Brisbane against Humiliating will see The Boars pipped at the last

  So we lost but still held 2nd after Humiliating beat Brisbane. However - and I know people always say this but it’s really true this time - promotion would probably be a disaster. Please note two retirements, no money, six Hulks, two Backchatters, a Cheat and a Moody Sicknote:

  

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  #6334

  11-08-2021, 15:13

  So, after yesterdays last game in the Xpert Ladies, I am playing my first ever play-off game. I do think I was lucky as Tesla Girls played more for DV than us. On the other side, I am playing always for DV, in every game I bring in younger players to get, so I guess I might not get promoted, but I will give it a try.

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• Sits

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  #6335

  11-08-2021, 21:43

  We’re playing Gregory’s Girls, and I don’t fancy our chances.

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• stormstopper

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  #6336

  11-08-2021, 23:52

  Originally posted by Janik View Post

  And with that Cassiopeia dropped from second to fourth in the 5:27 standings. The play-off is still a possibility as The Vainglories only trail that spot by a single point, with the two sides above them playing each other. If they were to draw, the door would be open… assuming Cassiopeia can beat runaway champions Marianne in Chains. Oh. There is another, scarier, possibility, which is that The Vainglories are only three points and +6 GD ahead of South Skeletons now. Defeat for them, victory for the Skeletons, and a big score either for South or against Cassiopeia (or both) and disaster would rear up.

  The good news about playing a runaway champion is they have every reason to play for DV in the final match. We got exactly the scenario we needed. Definitely have to think we're underdogs in the playoff, but there's a reason they play the games, right?

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  #6337

  12-08-2021, 11:35

  Well said Stormy. Best of luck to both you and Joe – I can't believe this is your first ever playoff MJ, do you mean just in the Xpert Ladies or in total??

  Just added it up, and slightly amazed to find this is my tenth with Viking South Utsira alone. Our record so far:

  S40 Div 6:53 W
  S41 Div 5:21 W
  S42 Div 4h L

  S48 Div 3d L
  S49 Div 3e W
  S50 Div 2b W
  S51 Div 1a L

  S58 Div 4h L
  S59 Div 4h W

  S62 Div 3e ?

  That Season 51 loss is the one that bugs still, because it's entirely my own fault. I infamously didn't expect us to stumble into 2nd on the final day of our debut campaign at D1 level, so didn't even get around to checking the results until over 48 hours later.
  Turned out we'd overtaken Spearwives of Ygritte by a single goal – we in fact only missed out on the title by a point to Mighty Aphrodite, in an incredibly competitive division where just 5 points spanned the top 6... shades of Div 5:19 this season, then.

  By that point two days later, of course, the playoff for the top flight that we'd unexpectedly sneaked into had already taken place hours earlier, without me. We lost, and there (although I didn't know it) went our high-water mark: it proved to be the point where our long and steady climb to that height peaked, petering out over the next couple of campaigns before a plunge all the way back to D4 by seven seasons later.

  If there's any point in reading anything into historical 'patterns', we're due a defeat (to even things up on 5-5)... or a win, to make it WWLLWWLLWW. I suspect that might actually come down to how much of a developmental XI I field, most critically perhaps whether I field our reserve keeper for DV points. If I've learned anything from S51, though, I suppose I ought to think "Carpe diem" and try to take the chance when it's there in front of us....

  What's encouraging, other than our propensity to win and lose these in pairs apparently, is that all the previous nine have come in clusters of consecutive seasons – suggesting we 'ought' to be in for another next season, either in the same tier again or the next one up, depending.

  Last edited by Various Artist; 12-08-2021, 11:37.

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  #6338

  12-08-2021, 11:43

  Originally posted by JanikView Post

  Yeah, I just clocked that. The sort of scoreline that generally means a penalty shoot-out... but that was a league game.

  I'm intrigued as to whether we're looking at the same thing now Janik! Am I missing some sort of 5-4 result somewhere?

  Now the spoiler period has lapsed, I think I can safely speak plainly and say I was thinking of Ullapool Northern Star's extraordinary 3-2 defeat to the bottom side 1492er Schlampen (1-0-12 beforehand), despite Northern Star twice leading and the shots reading 11-4 in their favour.

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  #6339

  12-08-2021, 12:05

  Crikey, is it me again already?

  First leg roundup for this week’s midseason doubleheaders:

  OTF League roundup for 9th August: Season 64 round 9

  Division 3
  The day’s big clash of the top two, both of whom have recently set the pace in D3, did not end as closely as expected. Instead, Wharfedale Generals turned in a devastatingly effective finishing display

  at Newall Carr Road to thrash OWC Albion 4-1 from only 5 shots to 2, Frank Hulme narrowly the pick with a goal and an assist. The hosts were 2-0 up at the break, and although Albion swiftly pulled one back Jan Ehrenberg restored the Generals’ two-goal advantage and Phil Lock secured things late on.
  The leaders go two points clear, OWC plunging to 4th after their first defeat of term. Two goals in the latter stages saw Cods of War to a 2-0 away win at Veni Vici Vigata (8th), their fourth straight victory taking them 2nd. Andromache FC meanwhile eased to a 3-1 at home over Tree Hill High to climb to 3rd and knock THH down to 7th.
  The neutrals’ choice though will have been the incredible seven-goal thriller at Netzer Park, where visiting Brian Munchingflapjack’s Nero Bertarelli struck a dramatic 89th-minute decider that ultimately held New Dresden at bay at the fourth attempt. The drama lasted from the opening whistle to the final one, the Munchies’ Sture Damberg heading them in front in the very first minute, which was cancelled out by René Hacker in the third – a pattern repeated when the Flapjacks retook the lead on both 42 and 58 minutes, the hosts striking back within mere minutes each time. It looked like undefeated Dresden might swing things their way when away keeper David Meireles was carried off on 76’, moments after his midfield colleague Mitchell Berkeley had also hobbled to the bench, with only hapless reserve Luukas Aim to take over between the sticks. Yet the six-season benchwarmer somehow held out for the first ever personal clean sheet of his career, meaning Bertarelli’s second goal of the half at the other end claimed all three points – sealed when Dresden’s 9-goal hitman Martin Hausmann was stretchered off with a bad injury in stoppage time.
  After all that, the two sides only swap places in 5th and 6th, but it is Munchingflapjack who have the upward momentum ahead of the immediate reverse fixture this Thursday, whereas draw-prone Dresden have gone DDWDDWDDL and have lost the scorer of over half their goals for the next fortnight. At the halfway mark of Season 64, there are now no unbeaten records left in the whole lower half of the league.
  The bottom division though also has no pointless records left either, after Eintracht Midwest broke their duck with two goals in five second-half minutes from Trey Jenkins and Waylon Holman giving them a long-awaited 2-0 success at Pinewood Passers. It is their first win since a 1-0 at home to VVV on May 3rd, since when they had gone 0-3-20. They are now only 3 points of the 9th-placed Passers, so could overhaul them with another win in the return meeting today.

  Division 2
  There was a bit of a shake-up in the top 5 here, but not at the very top where Wednesday de la Zouch’s eighth win on the spin was a 1-0 at Hampshire Deers, extending their lead to 3 points and pushing the Deers down a spot to 5th. The other key game though saw a stunning 4-0 home victory for Littlewoods Legends over FC Gloryhammer, slashing the gap between the top three and the rest to 4 points with the Hammers falling to 3rd and the Legends up to 4th. There was the collector’s item of not only a hat-trick for Allan Holmstrup, who scored in the 11th, 33rd and 81st minutes, but also a parallel hat-trick of assists for Jaime Longsworth who set his midfield colleague up for all three goals. The pair were only interrupted by Harry Koch laying on one for sub Anthony Giggs in the 71st.
  Meanwhile Nieuwegein Kneebiters’ 2-0 win at Great Northern Railway, clinched by Enzo Vermant in stoppage time, raised the Biters back to 2nd. That kept GNR 6th, three points off the top 5 and now ahead of Wensleydale Blues only on goal difference after Dale saw off Heffron Hendecagon 2-0 at the Sheep Dip. The Hendos were made to pay for Young Chips’ first-minute penalty miss, Albert Nethergill nodding the Blues in front just minutes later and Rhys Sedbergh wrapping things up from the spot late on.
  That’s suddenly opened up a 4-point gap between Wensleydale (7th) and Heffron, who also drop to 9th on GD behind Athletico Deva who bagged only their second win of the term with a 4-0 away thrashing of pointless and goalless kiddies Indigo Plateau.

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  #6340

  12-08-2021, 12:05

  Division 1
  Leaders Zeugmaspor, like D2 counterparts Wednesday, suffered their sole slip-up to date on opening day and have since produced 8 victories on the bounce. AE’s men were made to sweat only slightly this Monday before completing a 3-1 at Whoft Fluffopolis (5th), who are three without a win and losing touch with the leading quartet. 2nd-placed Locomotiv Noj though put an end to their own recent struggles by eventually pulling out their first win in four, finally seeing off Somers Town Super Imps (7th) with Rui Anjo’s two goals in the last 8 minutes including an 89th-min penalty. Imps remain one place above the relegation line, Noj stay 5pts behind Zeugma in 2nd. Another 5pts behind them in 3rd are Steaua Bridge, who in contrast got things done early at home to Kernow Kensa with two goals from Georghes Vãtãmanu in the 9th and 13th minutes.
  Kensa remain just a point from safety behind both the Sugar Imps and Banik Roystonov, with the latter seeing all their hard work of a 5-1 win over Whoft last Thursday wiped out by an equally astonishing 5-1 defeat this Monday at Turd Division. Almost all the damage was done by home forward Donovan Hawkins, who struck first in the opening minute then seemingly took personal affront at his team converting that into only a 2-1 lead at the break. The Turds skipper hit another three after the interval to single-handedly take the game out of reach, as well as bring up his half-century of goals in 148 career appearances. With 12 in 9 outings this term, he has already overhauled his previous best of 11 from last season. His club stay 4th, a single point behind Steaua. Banik meanwhile remain 6th but the GD they’d built up four days earlier is back down to -3 now, just one better off than the Imps below them.
  Intriguingly, too, there are now just 2 points spanning the bottom five – and only 4 covering everyone from 5th-placed Whoft down – after Saltney Drawers pulled out their first win in seven, a 2-0 at home to die Ambosse in the basement battle. Both teams had a midfielder carried off in the first half, Daisuke Nouguchi and Matias Grimmel respectively, either side of an Acker Herron header for Saltney. It wasn’t until the 94th minute that Ray Bloody Purchase popped up to nod a clincher, but that goal lifted the Drawers off the foot of the division at the Anvils’ expense by swapping their respective GDs to -9 and -10.

  OTF
  All change at the head of the league, as erstwhile pacesetters Berkshire Swine succumbed to their second 2-1 defeat in four days to plummet from the summit. The shock was that it came at Eriskay Expression, who had lost five in a row without so much as troubling the scorers, but Murray MacCuish and Giovanni Bento’s second-half goals proved enough for the Islanders despite Karel Ruban immediately pulling one back for the Swine to set up a tight finale. Expression climb two places and out of the dropzone to 7th, the Sty Council crash from the top of the charts to number 4.

  The next three teams down all surge past in unison after yet again only altering their own relative positions slightly. Once more, it is Great Ouse Town who steal a goal-difference march on both Four Candles and Vita Mortis, while Candles once again merely improve their goals-scored lead on Mortis, after respective 4-0, 2-1 and 1-0 victories on Monday. And boy, must Ouse’s haul have been a cathartic one – coming as it did at Dandy Town. Their head-to-head against the Dandies previously read a horrifying 7-18-41, with the Fenlanders not having beaten the Highwaymen in their last 18 meetings and not having won at the Stade Andy Liver since Season 51. They controlled this one from bell to bell, but despite not giving up a shot on their own goal and conjuring 9 of their own they could not force an opening until the 68th minute. Then, however, Chester Shields’ header opened the floodgates. Nickie Helmsford immediately followed suit, Jeffery Redman fired a third on 82’, and Lois Trundle completed the startling scoreline with an 88th-min fourth.
  GOT’s glorious day ended with them on top of the league with a 7-goal lead over both the Candles and Mortis, who slipstream them up to 2nd and 3rd. Two goals, including a penalty, in four first-half minutes proved enough for the former to hold off Rejects Redux at Hurlingham Park, despite more fight after the break from the bottom side. The Rejects did pull one back but were beaten 2-1 to stay 2pts adrift at the bottom. They are the only team now keeping the unexpectedly struggling Dandies off the foot of the top flight, Town falling to 9th and three points from safety ahead of what should be a tasty return engagement with Ouse at the Blue Fen today.
  Surfing a wave of jamminess, if such a thing is possible, are a Mortis side who nicked their fourth win by a single-goal margin on the trot, all of them coming via goals in the late stages and this one being a 1-0 at Norfolk rivals Waveney Valley Swifts snatched by Lance Porter in the 89th minute. The Swifts stay 6th after getting nothing from a close game and are just a point above the relegation line before the second leg of the derby doubleheader. Such frustration was probably echoed by both sides at Bankfalva Kert, where Croesoswallt Dragons dominated yet had to settle for a 1-1 draw after hosts Csiki Monkeys pinched an equaliser from the penalty spot on the hour, their only chance... something that was nevertheless not enough to prevent the Monkeys finishing the day down a place into the dropzone in 8th, a goal behind Eriskay. The Dragons, for their part, stay 5th but lose touch slightly with the group above – albeit they are now only 2pts behind the former leaders the Swine.

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• Sits

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  #6341

  13-08-2021, 07:48

  Thanks VA.

  Elsewhere, in the Xpert Ladies Cinghiali lost their playoff in extra time, after a sending off close to the end of the 90 minutes. And what a relief, with a shocking CR of five single jumps and two retiring.

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• nmrfox

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  #6342

  13-08-2021, 12:30

  Brythonnic Premiership Third Division East
  Holgate Pathetic 0-1 Wripple Vetivers

  37' 0-1 Set-piece freekick. Goal Scorer was John Revelation assisted by Dewayne Yopney

  Nothing too unusual in that, except that Yopney is the goalkeeper for Wripple. Either he'd wandered a long way up the pitch to earn the freekick from which the Revelator scored ("what the hell were you doing in their half of the pitch in the first half of the game Dewayne?") or our custodian had been fouled inside his own half and John had scored an absolute beauty/opposition keeper howler/wind assisted swirler.

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• Janik

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  #6343

  15-08-2021, 23:19

  And so the end is here… of another Xpert XI official Ladies League season. Accompanying that momentous moment is the matchday 14 and play-off match reports.

  Code:

  Xpert LadiesDrakaina 0 - 2 ShamLam Doobily Dodgers Garcia 1' Morbidelli 48'Division 1bMauchline Belles 2 - 2 Fortitudo CulemborgMcRenton 25' van Gastel 21'Perdao 92' Cristo 45'Division 3eViking South Utsira 2 - 0 San Francisco Wet CatsL.Hovland 11'T.Klovning 83'Division 3fSpandex FC 2 - 1 Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFCCross 36' Ikmal 66'Pawisnka 71'Division 4iLNWR Locomotive 0 - 4 Q.P.R LadiesPander 49'van der Haar 58', 77'Hamiti 88'Division 4jH S 2 - 0 Coxy Ladies WulpenSaulters 29'Utheim 86'Division 4pCsiki Girls 0 - 2 Lost CauseYoshino 21'Naalen 32'Division 5:14Real Rolz 2 - 0 CinghialiZeuwe 55'Boutet 88' Chornovil (sent off) 36'Division 5:19Rising Stars 1 - 0 Annie PowerElgeuse 82'1492er 3 - 2 Ullapool Northern StarMacKintosh (O.G.) 18' Bastock 5', 26'Ford 64'Adams 66'Division 5:21Invisible Ladies 0 - 4 Bethanys BinosEchaurren 36', 89'Gaio 79', 91'Division 5:22Bombay Green Rockets 2 - 0 IFK Norrköping DFKAlberdi 23'Lock 33'Division 5:26Yoga Slackers 0 - 2 Zeugma Dostluk SporColak 44'Güncar 90'Karakan (missed pen) 55'Division 5:27Cassiopeia 2 - 0 Marianne in ChainsKeskitalo 8'Aritonovic 57'Division 5:28ZFK Nase Taksi 0 - 3 Menywod MaeshafnBeck 2', 78'Campbell 82'Division 6:42Hazeldean Inchmistress 4 - 1 Haydock LadiesPedersen 7' Peeters 1'Bunton 52'Tattershall 71'Bringevik 84'Division 6:43Leraziel Utd 0 - 4 ASU PolitehnicaSimples 3'Motta 22', 36'Sãvescu 39'Division 6:57Tesla Girls 1 - 2 Dublin City Womens FCEustace 78' Rusu 58'Timmermans 68'

  There was little riding on Drakaina’s clash with ShamLam Doobily Dodgers as The Dragons were already relegated and their visitors already champions.
  Etienne’s side’s hopes of a defiant send off suffered a major blow as early as the opening minute when a long range Dodgers shot crept in. Some desperate last ditch Drakaina defending kept it to one by half-time despite heavy pressure. However ShamLam did get their second three minutes after the break, at which point the result was clear leaving the two teams to play out their season without risking unnecessary injuries or suspensions.
  Drakaina end the season seventh in the top flight, which is the same place as they finished on their first try three seasons back. In fact this campaign has been very marginally less successful, as the Greeks collected one point and scored on goal fewer, whilst also conceding once more this time around. But these are fractional difference and the overall report is ‘very similar, really’.

  Mauchline Belles final game against Fortitudo Culemborg meant rather more to the visitors, who came into the game with a one point lead at the top of the table, than it did to The Belles, who were sure to finish mid-table.
  Culemborg understandably started on the front foot, and went ahead on 25 mintues with a direct free-kick. However Jdsx’s side served notice they didn’t intend to make like easy for Fortitudo, equalising on 25 minutes when Lisa McRenton headed home a corner.
  Culemborg went ahead again in the final minute of the first half, but would have got news at half-time that their promotion rivals, Black Sabbath, were comfortably up as expected at Man City Ladies; Fortitudo needed to win. That added considerably pressure to the visitors, who really needed a third to ease it. But that wasn’t forthcoming and as their visitors got increasingly edgy Mauchline created openings. That eventually resulted in a dramatic equaliser on 92 minutes, Fernanda Perdao heading home Paula Stenqvist cross to claim a point for The Belles. And hand the title and promotion to the top flight to Black Sabbath. Culemborg went on to lose in the play-off as well. Killer.
  As for Mauchline, they slipped a place to end fourth in Division 1b. In part because of an 88th minute goal in another game, as well as the 92nd minute strike in this one. Fourth and comfortably clear of relegation all season counts as a very good return to Division 1 level, all told.

  Viking South Utsira had a shot at the Division 3e play-off place, albeit not one where they were on control of their destiny. The Blood Eagles needed to beat relegated San Francisco Wet Cats and hope the side that began the day in second place, BV Cloppenburg, didn’t win at champions San Quirico. So unlike Viking, who beat the top side in the penultimate week.
  Velvet Android’s side were strong favourites to do their part of that, but it needed concentration to make it happen. And a calming opening goal, such as Lina Hovland provided with an 11th minute direct free kick. Though that was all VSU had to show at the break despite having an eye-popping 74% possession.
  The break did bring positive news that San Quirico were 2-0 up on Cloppenburg. Whilst it was possible the visitors in that game could turn things around, they would need to do so fully – remember that a draw also opened the door to VSU. They just had to put their game to bed with a second and avoid getting hit by a sucker punch equaliser. Maybe that message hadn’t fully permeated until Viking had a real scare when Frisco had a goal disallowed on 71 minutes. That finally prompted action, Tyra Klovning firing in the necessary second from range in the 83rd.
  That goal ensured the win, and the news from elsewhere remained good – Cloppenburg had only managed to claw back to 1-2, rather than the 3-2 they needed. The Blood Eagles leapfrogged into second and their thoughts turned to a play-off.
  A vital penultimate day win over relegation rivals Beta Andromedae meant that Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC started the final day a point clear of the Alpha Quadrant side, so just needed to match the result Andromedae got against champions Girls Aloud when The Sea Spirits travelled to Spandex FC.
  The obvious way for KRK to do that was to win this game, but that wasn’t going right for SeanoftheShed’s girls from quite early on, though it took until the 36th minute for The Sea Spirits to actually fall behind. And the half-time news from elsewhere was also worrying as Daisy_D’s Beta side were not only 2-1 up on Girls Aloud but also reportedly outplaying them.
  It was clearly up to The Sea Spirits themselves to get out of this one, something Rahma Ikmal suggested was possible when she equalised in the 66th minute. Only for the door to be slammed shut again five minutes later when the hosts retook the lead.
  It finished 2-1 against Kanjeng, and elsewhere the news was also bad as Beta Andromedae got further ahead, winning 3-1. That meant that week 13 victory had been reversed, KRK slip back to sixth in Division 3e and will therefore be in Div.4 next term.

  Kanjeng won’t be joining LNWR Locomotive in the fifth tier as The Steamers had already been relegated back down to the sixth a number of week ago. The final game before Viktor Boskovic and team could put this season behind them was at home to mid-table Q.P.R Ladies.
  A win would have been nice for the long suffering Mollington Street faithful, and there was vague hope one would be possible as the score remained goalless until the break, especially as chances were fairly evenly (3-2 to the Hoops). QPR were having rather more of the ball though, and this eventually had a bearing as they began to create regular chances after the break. And also score regular goals.
  In fact all four of QPR’s second half openings resulted in Sona Mgrditchian picking the ball out of her net as LNWR’s season ended in appropriately deflating style. The Steamers finished a whole 8 points adrift of seventh in the final Division 4i table.

  Division 4j champions Coxy Ladies Wulpen’s only defeat in the league this season came on the opening day H S, so there was some desire amongst Janik and his team for revenge. And also the utterly horrid misogynistic name of their opponents to motivate.
  But there were also youngsters to get games to, and overall that took precedence for The Waders. Just as it had the previous week. But whereas matchday 13 ended in a win for the Coxy Ladies back-ups, this one really didn’t as goals on 29 and 86 minutes meant the final score on the day pretty well accurately reflected the match it was supposed to represent. Which isn’t always the case.
  Coxy Ladies eventual margin of victory in 4j was four points, their final record standing at a handy 10-2-2.

  Csiki Girls played an appropriate opponent in their final game as their situation was a Lost Cause prior to kick-off; The Csiki’s were going down whatever the outcome.
  Lost Cause had more to play for, as they needed to win to secure the Division 4p play-off spot. As such what transpired was to be expected, Csiki Girls not really getting into the game and Lost Cause building a 2-0 interval lead. Georgina Birch did think she had reduced arrears for Ad hoc’s side five minutes into the second half, but when this was disallowed The Csiki’s comeback was completely nipped in the bud – the score remaining 2-0 for the rest of the match as Lost Cause secured their play-off spot.
  Csiki Girls sixth-placed finish in 4p is better than their crash-and-burn 8th of three seasons back, but even so does still mean an immediate return back to Division 5.

  Last edited by Janik; 15-08-2021, 23:28.

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• Janik

  • Join Date: Mar 2008
  • Posts: 27384

  #6344

  15-08-2021, 23:29

  The final day of the Division 5:14 season saw Cinghiali head to sectional champions Real Rolz in possession of the 5:14 play-off place, but needing a win to be sure of retaining it.
  The Boars chances of managing that were always slender, Rolz not having lost in the league all season, but they got even slighter on 36 minutes when Aleksandra Chornovil was sent off 36 minutes in (the first dismissal of her 150+ game career at Piani Resinelli). That left Cinghiali in a very tricky position as a draw was of no value to them. Only a win was worthwhile, but chasing it meant leaving significant gaps at the back. And that resulted in the expected, two goals again on 55 and 88 minutes.
  That meant SitsWithRemote and team were more interested in how play-off spot rivals Brisbane Road Ladies had got on in their tricky match at Humiliating FC. The news at half-time on this was good, Humiliating were not only 1-0 up but had also been well on top in the first half. Given that Brisbane needed to win the game as they kicked off two points behind The Boars, this was very encouraging. And indeed the score at the HFC Dome remained unchanged for the remainder of that match.
  This meant Cinghiali were 5:14’s representatives in the play-offs for a Division 4 spot.

  So it came down to this after a rollercoaster season in Division 5:19. Both OTF sides had games they would be expected to win, and if they did good things would come from it.
  Let’s start with Rising Stars, who kicked off at home to Annie Power sitting second in the table, whilst their visitors were seventh with just six points all season.
  Victory for The Ascenders meant a definite play-off place. And potentially the title, if leaders Ramsgate FC lost to Athletic Mizil. On the other hand if The Stars didn’t win their game, they were going to hope Ramsgate beat Mizil as Athletic were third in the table, just a point behind Blamb’s side. As were fifth-placed Millwall Lionesses.
  Rather than rely on other results, Rising’s focus was on putting their own game away. Or was it? Because The Stars seemed distracted. Yes, they were dominating possession and forcing Annie Power back, but they were not breaking them down or creating all that many chances. With the other games still also scoreless at the break this left everything incredibly finely balanced.
  The first breakthrough of the day came for Millwall, who scored twice in quick succession soon after the restart. OK, that made things simple for The Ascenders – they needed to win. But that win was still something to be chased for two reasons, securing the play-off but also going for the title, up until the 72nd minute when news broke that Ramsgate were 1-0 up.
  The Kent side added a second on 83 minutes, and Millwall a third a bit earlier than that, which all clarified Rising’s need. Just GET A GOAL. Which was something they finally did with 82 on the Ascension Arena clock, Bette Elgeuse bursting clear to slide home Maria Miguel’s pass. That made for a tense lead, but ultimately just enough of one to secure the win.
  And what of Ullapool Northern Star? Well, Polaris were two points adrift of Athletic Mizil, Millwall and Wheelies Wobblers at kick off. And with Wheelies playing Millwall, Delicatemoth and co knew their target against bottom side 1492er was first victory, and secondly victory by the four goal margin that would take them above the Wobblers if the other results went badly. It might even lift them above Rising Stars in the unlikely event they lost to Annie Power.
  Suzy Bastock got Polaris off to a wonderful start, firing home a direct free-kick on 5 minutes. Ullapool dominated after that, only to suffer a self-inflicted wound when Hellen MacKintosh put through her own net after 18 minutes. No matter, Bastock scored directly from a free-kick again on 26 to restore the Scots advantage.
  2-1 up at the break wasn’t quite enough to have Ullapool out of the drop zone in the running table due to all the other games being 0-0. It in fact showed four teams all level on 23 points, but with Northern Star holding the worst goal difference. All that changed when Millwall began to run away from Wheelies Wobblers – now Ullapool were up to fifth. All they needed was to put this match to bed. Chance after chance were created, but not scored. And then, disaster, out of nowhere 1492er scored. Needing to win, Polaris panicked and made things much worse by conceding again two minutes later!
  The remainder of the match was a siege, with shots raining at the home goal from all angles. But try what they might Polaris just couldn’t force it home and ended up somehow losing 3-2 in a match where they had 58% possession and out-shot their hosts 11-4.
  What a gutting way to get relegated. Our collective sympathies, DM. As for Rising Starts, their win meant second place given Ramsgate won their match.

  Invisible Ladies took the role of fall guys for the game against Bethanys Binos as The See-Throughs were safe from relegation but only in lower mid-table, whilst the Binos needed a win to give themselves an outside shot of the Division 5:21 title.
  The game was one-way traffic… in the expected direction. Sorry for anyone hoping that was a set-up for The See-Throughs pulling off a shock. Bethanys had been knocking on the Invisible door long before their 36th minute opener, and were likewise doing so again prior to adding a second on 79. Further goals on 89 and 91 were just a bit showy, goal difference meant nothing, and ultimately pointless as by then leaders Invictus Ladies had a 2-0 lead and the points in the bag in their game. Which meant they were champions and the Binos were play-off bound, however many they scored.
  As for The See-Throughs, they finished fifth in Division 5:19, which was the second year in a row that has been their final spot. But in less fraught fashion this time around.

  Division 5:22 has been an odd one this season. To whit, there was only seven points between Bombay Green Rockets and IFK Norrköping DFK, but the two started the day top by a point and knowing victory would mean the title (baring a 12-0 win in another game, which doesn’t happen on X11), and sixth by a point and equally knowing defeat would mean relegation. Basically apart from two utter whipping boy sides, the other six were all very close in standard.
  That said, The Green Rockets were the first amongst equals at kick-off of this match, and like any good leader of that type HKS3’s side were looking to publicly assert their primacy with some early positive news. And they came up trumps, Josefa Alberdi heading home on 23 minutes and Isabel Lock scoring a breakaway on 33. The news organ didn’t even have to invent anything for once!
  Two clear at the break, all Bombay needed to do was hold on to their advantage. They did this with just one scare, when Norrköping had a goal disallowed in the 56th minute. The Rockets coasted to victory apart from that.
  The check on the other score showed Flick of the Wrist had indeed not won 12-0. In fact they hadn’t won at all and were consequently pipped to second by Northen Stars Ladies. The winners popping the champagne were Bombay though, whose annual divisional change this closed season will take them from Div.5 back to 4. It is the fifth time in a row The Green Rockets have changed levels (promoted, relegated, relegated, promoted, promoted).

  A win for Zeugma Dostluk Spor at mid-table Yoga Slackers would open up a slight chance of AntepliEjderha’s side usurping second place in Division 5:26, but only if it was combined by the incumbents of that slipping up and losing their game.
  There was nothing ZDS could do about the other game, so their focus instead was wholly on winning this one. The Anatolians had a large majority of possession, but made few chances from it. In fact, the cross from Ceyda Üzülmez to Serma Colak in the 44th minute was responsible for their first sight of goal of the match. Fortunately, Colak buried it past the Slackers ‘keeper.
  Zeugma had a glorious chance to make it two when they were awarded a penalty in the 55th minute. Regular take Nuray Karakan grabbed the ball, but she looked nervous placing it, and her weak effort was beaten away. I would say that kept things on tenterhooks, but by now the travelling fans had heard that The Lazy Bikers were 3-1 up, and their sides efforts were all likely in vain. That explains why Inci Güncar’s second that made the win safe was greeted by just a perfunctory cheer.
  ZDS end the 5:26 campaign third, three points shy of where they wanted to be.

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• Janik

  • Join Date: Mar 2008
  • Posts: 27384

  #6345

  15-08-2021, 23:30

  Cassiopeia had slipped back to fourth in the Division 5:27 table before their final game. Which happened to be against champions Marianne in Chains. Who had lost once all season. A final game against the leaders whilst sitting fourth? No chance of a play-off place for The Vainglories, then.
  Well, not so fast. Stormstopper’s side may have been two spots back, but the sides directly above them, Lilywhite Ladies and Brkate Zetovke, were playing each other. And only ahead of The Vainglories by a point and +2 goal difference respectively. If that game finished as a draw, then a Cassiopeia win would lift them to second. There was also a chance if Brkate Zetovke won the other match, though that would necessitate a big goal difference swing.
  On the other hand, Cassiopeia were only three points clear of South Skeletons in sixth, with the side in fifth between them (Vesterbrogade FC) likely to win. Goal difference was in Cassiopeia’s favour here, but really the Vainglories wanted to make looking back an irrelevance by picking up a point or three.
  They were on their way to the latter in the 8th minute when defender Anneli Keskitalo chose a wonderful time to score her first goal for the club, turning home a Helena Krcmarevic free-kick. The lead was no less than Cassiopeia deserved, and the same held for their second, scored by Sandra Aritonovic on 57 minutes.
  That was the end of the scoring. It’s amazing what motivation can do. But would it be enough for a play-off spot (it’s a given it was enough to avoid the drop)? Well, that depended on events at Okretiste, where the score had been 1-1 at half-time, and there hadn’t been an update since. Frantic phone calls determined that it was still 1-1 in stoppage time, with Lilywhite pushing for the winner but being frustrated. And then the news came through… all over, 1-1, and Cassiopeia had jumped back up to second in 5:27 at the perfect time to get a repechage shot at promotion.

  The top end of Division 5:28 was a total bunfight, with five sides kicking off the final day within four points of each other. Some of these, such as Menywod Maeshafn, who kicked off fifth, couldn’t catch leaders Jocvijeve Zecice, but they could potentially leapfrog into second with a win at ZFK Nase Taksi and the right results elsewhere.
  The first bit of this looked the most straightforward aspect, give Nase Taksi were bottom, with just one goal and three points all season (that goal was very strategically deployed, clearly!). They did have a human manager, though, so IsThatcherDeadYet’s charges needed to take them seriously.
  And, well, Maeshafn did. They opened the scoring comfortingly early, Morgan Beck scoring a direct free-kick just two minutes in, and though they didn’t make the game safe until Beck scored again from range after 78, Cindy Denton’s goal was never seriously threatened in between.
  Iona Campbell added a third on a breakaway on 82 minutes, but by now attention was mostly directed elsewhere to events in other games. And the news from there was bad – Evil daughters, who had kicked off the day third and two points ahead of Maeshafn, were beating Jocvijeve Zecice 1-0. If that remained the score then Maeshafn couldn’t claim a play-off place. All reports were this was a travesty, and Zecice were creating all the chances, but timed ticked past and chances were missed, and that was how the scoreline remained to the end. 1-0 on 1-5 chances and 45-55% possession. Oof.
  That cost Maeshafn any chance of the play-offs, but it did open the door to the side who started the day second, The Valkyries, to win this section. All they needed to do was beat FCT Queens, who were the other side with Maeshafn on 23 points at the start of the day, so had their own ambitions of a play-off place (which would prove fruitless, but they weren’t to know it at this point). It turned out to be one of the most remarkable games I’ve ever seen on X11. It went something like this:
  1’ 1-0 Queens midfielder Tilde Nilsson scores a free-kick
  16’ 1-1 Valkyries equalise
  21’ 2-1 Nilsson scores her second free-kick
  33’ 2-2 Valkyries get a free-kick goal of their own
  35’ 3-2 Thunder stolen, Nilsson heads home a corner instead to complete her hattrick
  Half-time. And breathe.
  50’ Goal disallowed for Valkyries
  60’ 3-3 But it doesn’t matter as they equalise 10 minutes later anyway
  78’ 4-3 Nilsson gets her fourth of the day from the penalty spot
  84’ 4-4 Only for Valkyries midfielder Hulda Herstorp to respond in kind, her spot-kick completing a personal brace
  86’ Highs to lows for Herstorp as two minutes after getting her side’s fourth equaliser, she is sent off.
  89’ 5-4 Queens take advantage almost immediately, their first of the day from a player other than Nilsson.
  93’ 6-4 But it has to end with Nilsson’s fifth. From the days third penalty. And her own personal second spot kick.
  Wow!
  And at the end of all that Valkyries had lost a game they might have won, which saw them finish fifth in Division 5:28 instead of first! Maeshafn end fourth. Meanwhile the champions are Evil daughters, on the back of that utter smash-and-grab 1-0 win from 1-5 chances.
  What a dramatic afternoon.

  Nothing is going to match that, especially not dead rubbers such as Hazeldean Inchmistress vs Haydock Ladies.
  Nothing riding on it, but not a meaningless match given the two teams status as Division 6:42’s top two. And for Inchmistress it had a purpose as Foxy265 prepared his side for the promotion play-off two days afterwards. To do that The Imperials really wanted no injuries or suspension, but could also do with winning the game to keep form and confidence up.
  Going 1-0 down inside the first sixty seconds was a bit worrying therefore. But it proved to be just an inauspicious start, and Hazeldean soon put behind them when Line Pedersen equalised 7 minutes in. Haydock shaded the rest of the first half, but these early strikes proved to be its only goals as the period ended all square.
  Haydock apparently regarded the season as being over there though as they didn’t turn up after the break. Instead it was all The Imperials, with three more goals to report for the hosts. Karen Bunton got the first of these on a breakaway on 52 minutes, followed by Mollie Tattershall with a direct free-kick (71) and then dinking the next set-piece over to Jennie Bringevik to finish (84).
  The win ultimately meant nothing beyond the lift it gave Inchmistress to finish just one point behind Haydock in the final 6:42 table.

  I had already declared ASU Politehnica as Division 6:43 champions prior to their match at Leraziel Utd. But, actually, The Scholars needed to win it to be crowned as champions. It’s just that against a zombie…
  Count no chickens and all that, and I’m sure Granthamian was celebrating when Alzira Simples made it 1-0 just 3 minutes in. And when Fernanda Motta added a second with a direct free-kick on 22. Once that one went in it was relax and enjoy it time, Motta adding her second of the day on 36 minutes and Elena Sãvescu making it four after 39.
  At that point celebration took over, Politehnica seemingly more interested in that than adding to their tally in the rest of the first half or the entirety of the second. Not that they need to, 4-0 was more than enough. 1-0 would have sufficed.
  The students end the 6:43 campaign one point ahead of Aveley Ladies and two clear of London Ladies. Somewhat narrow margins, but margins don’t matter – The Scholars are champions and will be in Division 5 next term.

  Final day scenarios can be convoluted. But not so for Dublin City Womens FC and Tesla Girls. Both knew that one of them would be claiming Division 6:57’s play-off place, and that a win or a draw would send it to hosts Tesla, but Mortal Joe’s Dubs could snatch the spot with a win.
  That knowledge appeared to work better for The Molly Malones than their hosts. Whilst the Irish side didn’t create a legitimate chance in the first half, they did have 64% possession and Elwira Gruszka had the ball in the Tesla net early on, only for it to be disallowed.
  The encouragement that brought came to fruition after the break as chances flowed and goals arrived for Dublin. Camelia Rusu got the first from close range on 58 minutes, and Emma Timmermans added insurance on 68. That second strike proved to be vital as Tesla pulled one back on 78 minutes, but couldn’t find an equaliser. And didn’t really deserve one on the balance of play in the match (62% possession and 5-2 on chances to Dublin).
  The result meant the teams swapped positions, Dublin claiming second in the final 6:57 table and with it a one-off shot at promotion through the play-offs.

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• Janik

  • Join Date: Mar 2008
  • Posts: 27384

  #6346

  15-08-2021, 23:30

  Code:

  Qualification for Division 2Viking South Utsira 0 - 1 Bajen BabesA.E.T. Sykes 116'Qualification for Division 4Gregorys Girls 3 - 1 CinghialiPaunovic 51' A.E.T. Soviero 5'Balfour 100' Pailloux (sent off) 89'McAnuff (pen) 109'Landvetter IF 1 - 2 CassiopeiaHultman 46' A.E.T. Aritonovic 79'Truedsson (sent off) 36' Juric 102'Northen Stars Lady 3 - 0 Rising StarsHagström 17', 27', 36'Qualification for Division 5F.C Dinamo Ladies 0 - 3 Dublin City Womens FCHempel 28'Rusu 64'Moscardi 76'Hazeldean Inchmistress 0 - 3 Mega GirlsTosto 41'Gaultieri 45'Pirri (pen) 90'

  And so to the play-offs, with our first stop being Viking South Utsira attempting to return to Division 2 by taking on Bajen Babes.
  The first half was tight, but it any team shaded it it was Bajen, who had 53% of the ball, and the one chance going. That pattern moreorless held through the rest of the game as well as Viking struggled to break down their opponents 4-5-1 formation. But as long as Velvet Android’s side could hold it to 0-0 there was always a penalty shoot-out to target.
  The Blood Eagles got as far as the end of normal time still all square. And the end of the first period of extra-time. But then, with the shoot-out just about in sight, they finally conceded the killer goal. And it was a killer – having gone 116 minutes without creating a single chance it was little surprise that VSU failed to make any opportunities in the 4 they had to recover the situation.
  So it will be Division 3 again next season for the Norwegians after all.

  Cinghiali boss SitsWithRemote was far from convinced that promotion was in his side’s best interests as he wrapped his sheepskin coat around himself on the sideline of their game with Gregorys Girls.
  The Boars players appeared to have no such doubts though, Trillare Soviero heading them ahead from a corner just 5 minutes in. After this, though, the boss doubts appeared justified as Gregorys Girls had the better of things. The Scots levelled on 51 minutes, and exerted pressure that had an indirect reward on 89 minutes when Adèle Pailloux saw her second yellow card of the day and was sent off.
  That came too late in normal time for Gregorys to exploit, but it was a significant advantage for the Scots in extra-time. And one they took advantage of, going ahead in the 100th minute and then adding a third to kill the tie stone dead from the penalty spot after 109.
  Which meant that SWR will get another season to develop his side in Division 5. Exactly as he wanted.

  A sending off would also play a part in Cassiopeia’s encounter with Landvetter IF.
  The dismissal was the first serious incident of the match, in fact. It came in the 36th minute, Landvetter’s Ella Truedsson seeing a straight red for an awful foul on Gertrude Schmoll that saw The Vainglories defender helped from the field with an 11-day injury.
  The loss of Schmoll resulted in some defensive re-organisation for Stormstopper’s side, though this really ought to have been completed before Landvetter took the lead in the 46th minute. That goal reflected the balance of play prior to the sending off, but not that after it as The Vainglories came more into the match. The question was whether they could equalise, though. Maja Bjelosevic thought she had in the 68th minute, only for ref Frank Redkard to rule out her effort. He was happy with Sandra Aritonovic breakaway strike 11 minutes later, though.
  That sent the match to extra-time, where the extra player began to be really helpful to The Vainglories. They just needed one player to be lost by their opponents, which is what happened from a 102nd minute corner when Gordana Juric was left free to power home a header.
  This proved to be the winner as Cassiopeia got promoted via the play-offs for the second season in succession.

  The third OTF side in the play-offs at this level was Rising Stars, who faced another stellar team, Northen Stars Lady, who we are familiar with from Bombay Green Rockets Division.
  But which of these two sides would shine the brightest? In the first half the answer was clear, and it was to the North rather than the East. Northen scored not once, not twice, but three times, all through their centre-forward.
  That left Blamb’s side with rather a lot to do after the break. The first aspect was to try and redress the shocking possession stats (71% against before the break), which The Ascenders did manage as they held 45% of the ball after the interval. The next was to convert this greater share of the ball into chances. This was less successful, with just one opening made in the period. And that in a half which Northen Stars played some of with 10 players due to injury.
  It wasn’t even close to enough to prevent Northen’s victory. One they deserved as they clearly were the brightest in this firmament.

  Having snuck into the Division 6 play-offs at the last, the momentum was with Dublin City Womens FC going into their game with F.C Dinamo Ladies.
  Dublin also benefitted from the Dinamo boss seemingly being caught on the hop by his team being in the play-off, as he was elsewhere for days prior to the match. That was a big break as far as Mortal Joe’s side were concerned, and one they had to take advantage of. 60% first half possession was good, but only one chance came from this. However, Michelle Hempel scored it, heading home Camelia Rusu’s cross in the 28th minute.
  The same two players combined again in mirror image on 64 minutes for The Molly Malones second, Hempel’s centre finding Rusu’s head and then the back of the Dinamo net. By now Dublin were enjoying themselves, with Hempel pulling all the strings. Having made her sides second she also created the third, threading the ball through for Aline Moscardi to race away and finish in the 76th minute.
  And with that Dublin were back in Division 5 after just one season away.

  Hazeldean Inchmistress’ spell in the bottom tier has gone on rather longer, with a number of seasons where they were not even involved in the promotion picture. Season 62 was much better because here they were at the Xpert Arena, with a game against Mega Girls which was going to send one of the sides up.
  The Imperials struggled for possession in the opening half though, without conceding chances. Or without doing so in the first 40 minutes as two opportunities came Mega Girls way on 41 and 45 minutes. Sadly for Hazeldean, both were converted.
  Foxy265’s girls had to step things up considerably after the break if they wanted to get back into the match. Instead they only managed the most fractional improvement, pushing their share of possession op from 39% to 41%. No chances came the Framleyshire side’s way, which meant they were condemned to defeat before Mega Girls made it three from the spot in the 90th minute.
  3-0 was inordinately harsh on The Imperials in a game where they only allowed three chances in total. And it’s to be hoped the successful season before it provides a stepping stone for improvement once this one has been got over. Because it was rather a kick in the teeth.

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• Sits

  • Join Date: Sep 2011
  • Posts: 31416
  • Location: Sydney

  #6347

  16-08-2021, 08:27

  Excellent stuff Janik.

  And Brisbane Road Ladies is a much better name than Brisbane Roar Ladies.

  Last edited by Sits; 16-08-2021, 08:29.

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• lambers

  • Join Date: Aug 2017
  • Posts: 2490
  • Location: Hampshire
  • Favourite Biscuit: Bourbon

  #6348

  16-08-2021, 09:26

  I second Sits.

  I thought that I would once again hunt out the new divisions for us all, and found that we have not one, not two, but three derbies to look forward to!

  Shockingly, not in division one where there are two teams, but division 3e will have a match up of the reporters between VA and Janik. There's an Indian Ocean affair in division 4k between Kanjeng and Bombay, while 5:21 will see the battle of Unseen University between Invisible Ladies and ASU Politehnica.

  The full list:

  Drakaina	1a
  Mauchline Belles	1b
  Viking South Utsira	3e
  Coxy Ladies Wulpen	3e
  Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC	4k
  Bombay Green Rockets	4k
  Cassiopeia	4n
  Cinghiali	5:14
  LNWR Locomotive	5:17
  Rising Stars	5:18
  Invisible Ladies	5:21
  ASU Politehnica	5:21
  Zeugma Dostluk Spor	5:26
  Menywod Maeshafn	5:27
  Dublin City Womens FC	5:28
  Csiki Girls	5:31
  Ullapool Northern Star	6:39
  Hazeldean Inchmistress	6:42

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• stormstopper

  • Join Date: Aug 2020
  • Posts: 31

  #6349

  17-08-2021, 20:57

  Blamb, just letting you know Patrizia Servidei found a good home and won't even have to leave the constellations!

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• lambers

  • Join Date: Aug 2017
  • Posts: 2490
  • Location: Hampshire
  • Favourite Biscuit: Bourbon

  #6350

  17-08-2021, 21:29

  Excellent news, glad she's gone to a good celestial home!

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